CHARICE Gassmann was in a state of “inappropriate intense anger” due to a mental health condition when she fatally stabbed mother of eight Alison Connolly, a court heard today.

As summing up began in the trial at Bristol Crown Court, the jury heard a psychiatric assessment showed Charice suffered from a personality disorder which affected her temperament.

Grandmother Alison was discovered in a communal stairwell at Evelyn House, Park South, on May 12, having sustained a fatal stab wound.

Sisters Charice, 19, and Amberstasia, 23, both deny murder, while the former accepts manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Adam Vaitlingham, QC defending Charice said she displayed visible signs of distress after the “unprovoked” headbutt by Alison 10 minutes before the stabbing.

“It was like someone had electrocuted her and there was no emotion left,” he said.

“A witness said she had never seen her like that, she looked lost and looked like she didn’t know she was there.

“Charice was already in a seriously messed up state not through her own fault and the unprovoked headbutt didn’t help things. It wasn’t a considered attack, if this isn’t a case of diminished responsibility what on earth is?”

Mr Vaitlingham pointed to a medical assessment which stated Charice had a personality disorder and could not be held fully accountable for her actions.

“She said she felt like she was leaving her body and somebody else was in control,” he said.

“A doctor has said she has personality disorder which has been exhibited in her behaviour. One can wonder if there is intent to kill if a person is stabbed once, not repeatedly.”

In his concluding statements, Alistair Malcolm QC, prosecuting said Amberstasia had underplayed her part in the attack, believing she punched Alison in the head after the fatal wound was inflicted and pointed to inconsistencies in her story.

CCTV footage which shows Amberstasia moving towards Alison before making physical contact was played to the court.

“Amber must have known what her sisters intentions were when she was shouting that she wanted her machete,” he said.

“Alison wanted to apologise to Charice, she felt bad so she wanted to find her.

“Witnesses heard shouts of “no-one f**** with my family”, this would suggest it wasn’t Charice that said this otherwise she would have said no-one f**** with me.”

“Alison Connolly had had the temerity to challenge Charice and respond to her aggression and that was something she wasn’t going to take, she was going back to teach her a lesson and she didn’t like that. This was an act of revenge.”

Mr Malcolm said Amberstasia was in no doubt about what her sister was about to do.

“She knew full well that her sister was to cause serious harm at least to Alison Connolly. She did not act immediately, she left and armed herself with a knife," he said.

Witnesses described Charice shouting threats such as “Call the police, there’s going to be a murder” and “I’m going to nank that bitch” shortly before the incident.

Summing up will conclude tomorrow with the jury then expected to consider its verdict.